Chronic shoulder problems

[Scabutz]

About 18 months ago I noticed my shoulder was sore while doing DIY. Went to a physio they tried various things and then referred me to the Musculoskeletal Consultant. They did ultrasound and found the bursa was very inflamed. I had a steroid shot and continued with physio for a while. It was good for a few months and then pain started creeping back in. So had more physio, then the MKS doctor did an MRI, I had a pretty small partial thickness tear in one of the rotator cuff muscles and the bursa was inflamed again.

Had a second steroid injection and more physio. Again fine for months then out of no where its really painful again. I hadnt even been doing much, just woke up and it hurt.

MKS has said no more injections and Axa are about to cut me off as they now deem it chronic and dont cover chronic conditions. My PMI is changing to Vitality so possibly could start a new claim, but I am not sure what for. Nothing seems to work.

Its not really impacting me day to day as I drive a desk for a living, but I want to swim and lift weights and cant currently do either.

Anybody got any suggestions of where to go next?

[KAgantua]

You can get the Cuff tear re sewn on?

I had same thing - about 3 years ago I tore my right shoulder in the gym. Didnt feel anything at the time but kept getting acheness/ 'clicking' when moving the arm.

Phsio/ chiro/ rest did nothing. Steriod injections fixed it but only for a few weeks...

I had the tear fixed in October. you cant move your arm for a month.

Im now pretty much back to normal but just cant go too heavy on that arm for another year maybe.

[DrEMa]

Go and see someone for a proper full body static posture and movement assesment. The shoulder issues could easily be part of a bigger postural and movement problem (I often find hips are strongly related - anterior tilt, rib flare, compromised shoulder girdle).

[sunnyb13]

Interested to see how this pans out

[GilletteFan]

I recommend the underhand pull apart and the external rotation exercises from the following video. You can use single rubber strips to wrap around a pole to do internal rotation for high reps.

https://youtu.be/osRimvxXlKQ

Do the following, but get lower by lowering one knee to the ground. Once in full stretch, rotate your shoulder clockwise and anticlockwise. Grease your grooves.

https://youtu.be/mr2ucJL_jI0

Only one of these exercises looks necessary (link should open it up to the exact exercise).

https://youtu.be/kTDXOYkoXVU?t=258

Lastly, do dead hangs from a high bar. Mount one up if you have to. Walk up to a straight bar, the higher the better to allow for a full stretch with straight body, grab the bar with two hands just outside of shoulder width and hang there. You start by keeping you shoulder blades in position. When your mobility and strength improves, you can unpack your shoulder blades and alternate dead hang shoulder position.

Your recovery time will depend on age, how much shoulder mass you have, overall shoulder strength, type of injury, rest and your focus on rehabilitation. Do not do nothing is what I would recommend.

[Douglas Quaid]

You need a good physio, not just a physio.

[GTS_uk]

If you've torn your rotator cuff, you can't repair it without surgery. No physio will fix it and chances are you'll make it worse, risking a full tear by leaving it untreated.

I had a 90% tear and surgery to repair. Its a 9-12month recovery but, with a good surgeon and physio, a good chance you'll get back to full strength and movement. It's tough but definitely worth it if you have an active lifestyle.

Through your healthcare, they should be able to refer you to a shoulder specialist. I know of a great one if you're on the south coast - Spire in Portsmouth have two leading specialists.

Whichever way you decide, good luck.

[Scabutz]

The MSK consultant said that the tear was too small to warrant surgery. I guess opinions vary. Presumably I can ask the place that did the MRI for the results and take to a different doctor? Assuming Vitality will cover it?

It was a private MRI place the MSK consultant referred me to, but my PMI paid.


Regarding having a good physio I saw 4 different ones. 2 were rubbish and didn't seem to have any grasp of what was going on. One I actually think did make things worse. The other two were pretty good and I saw good results. It just doesn't last.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

EmailAddress said:

If you'd like to go ghetto.

No movement for a month.

Then work your way up through resistant bands from absolute lightweight joke for a week until you eventually start to feel it.

Full rotation.

Being very careful not to over extend and not to over exert.

This will be extremely tedious and extremely tricky to not jump ahead.

But will be the same effect as anything posh, costing money.

The difference will be +18 months vs. professional care.

ETA. i.e 2 year recovery as opposed to six months if you get it sorted Pro.

2017? I had a slap tear and rotator cuff. Surgeon wanted to saw off parts of bone etc saying arthritis etc etc. I said will I be the same post surgery? No. I refused surgery and concentrated on non intervention recovery. Two years later I started hard-core judo training multiple week sessions..